Published: Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 03:56 PM.

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A pending pair of new businesses on South Street in downtown Gastonia will aim to indulge your style and your stomach.

Specializing in suds and sauce will be the Standard Pizza and Ale House. The proprietors have signed a two-year lease to rent the long vacant ground-floor space of the historic Standard Hardware building at 156 S. South St. They expect to begin serving food and beverages in April.

Half a block away, the owners of Chic Nail Spa say they’ll open no later than Monday at 116 S. South St. They have remodeled storefront space in the bottom of the Commercial Building, one of Gastonia’s two unofficial high-rises.

Since it was restored by developer Chuck McClure eight years ago, the Standard building has been a beacon for what Gastonia leaders hope to see downtown. Countless cities have succeeded in bringing their old business districts back to life through public-private partnerships that revitalize buildings with historic significance.

McClure triggered that by helping to convert the upper floors of the Standard into offices and luxury loft apartments. Filling the first floor has been a challenge — until now.

“We basically saw that space at the Standard and were like, ‘Hmm. Why don’t we try it?’” said Carol Dillingham, a partner in the Standard Pizza and Ale House venture.

Pizza party

Dillingham’s co-owner is Charles Blanchard, who she said has an ownership stake with his stepson in Johnny Brusco’s Pizza in Mooresville. Dillingham also has a culinary background, which includes time spent as a pastry chef at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World.

They are leasing the Standard space from the building owner, South Street Arcade LLC, and they met with architects Thursday to talk about their restaurant’s design. Dillingham expects to acquire city permits this month to begin the extensive work, which will involve installing HVAC systems and lighting.

They’ll offer a menu of pizza, pasta and other standards, as well as draft beers from Old Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte, among others. The restaurant will have a family atmosphere, she said.

It will also incorporate old artifacts from the former hardware store’s heyday into the interior design, such as rolling ladders once used to reach stock on high shelves. The tin ceiling that drew a double-take from Dillingham’s architect Thursday will add to that historic vibe.

“Everybody we’ve talked to has given us a positive response,” said Dillingham, noting the 291 “likes” their Facebook page had received as of Friday. “We’re excited.”

Dillingham was born and raised in a small town in Maine and said Gastonia has some of the same charm. Just this week, she moved from the South Park area of Charlotte into a loft she bought here, in the Carriage Company building at Main Avenue and Marietta Street.

She noted the surrounding eateries that are quietly building a foundation downtown, such as the Miller and Kasper hot dog stand, Zoe’s Coffee House and Nick’s Steak and Taphouse.

“I just like the feel and I like the people,” she said of Gastonia. “We’re starting to see things open up here. So yeah, why not do it?”

Spa treatment

Ai Nguyen and his girlfriend, Dana Dang, also hope Chic Nail Spa will benefit from the boost in downtown activity.

Nguyen has worked in the nail salon business more than a decade. He’s lived in Gastonia about six years while commuting to work in Shelby.

Dang, in turn, has 15 years of experience.

“We just decided we needed to go on our own,” Nguyen said.

In recent years, the Commercial Building storefronts on South Street were occupied by businesses such as Tag It Embroidery and Visual Arts, and Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe, which eventually closed.

Dang has friends who work at Running with Scissors and for the city of Gastonia downtown. They suggested the couple consider a move there.

They recently sealed the deal, signing a lease with building owner Nathan Kirby. Kirby’s plans to renovate both the Commercial Building and its fellow high-rise across the street — the Lawyers Building — helped convince them to take the plunge.

“I see a lot of potential down here,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen and Dang decided to take both spaces for their venture, and their final building inspection was Friday. They’ll offer manicures, pedicures and other standard services, as well as facials, he said.

They also hope to offer other perks, such as a complimentary glass of wine for customers after standard working hours.

“We want them to come in and try to relax, maybe with a little glass of wine,” Nguyen said. “That sure works for my girlfriend.”

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.

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A pending pair of new businesses on South Street in downtown Gastonia will aim to indulge your style and your stomach.

Specializing in suds and sauce will be the Standard Pizza and Ale House. The proprietors have signed a two-year lease to rent the long vacant ground-floor space of the historic Standard Hardware building at 156 S. South St. They expect to begin serving food and beverages in April.

Half a block away, the owners of Chic Nail Spa say they’ll open no later than Monday at 116 S. South St. They have remodeled storefront space in the bottom of the Commercial Building, one of Gastonia’s two unofficial high-rises.

Since it was restored by developer Chuck McClure eight years ago, the Standard building has been a beacon for what Gastonia leaders hope to see downtown. Countless cities have succeeded in bringing their old business districts back to life through public-private partnerships that revitalize buildings with historic significance.

McClure triggered that by helping to convert the upper floors of the Standard into offices and luxury loft apartments. Filling the first floor has been a challenge — until now.

“We basically saw that space at the Standard and were like, ‘Hmm. Why don’t we try it?’” said Carol Dillingham, a partner in the Standard Pizza and Ale House venture.

Pizza party

Dillingham’s co-owner is Charles Blanchard, who she said has an ownership stake with his stepson in Johnny Brusco’s Pizza in Mooresville. Dillingham also has a culinary background, which includes time spent as a pastry chef at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World.

They are leasing the Standard space from the building owner, South Street Arcade LLC, and they met with architects Thursday to talk about their restaurant’s design. Dillingham expects to acquire city permits this month to begin the extensive work, which will involve installing HVAC systems and lighting.

They’ll offer a menu of pizza, pasta and other standards, as well as draft beers from Old Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte, among others. The restaurant will have a family atmosphere, she said.

It will also incorporate old artifacts from the former hardware store’s heyday into the interior design, such as rolling ladders once used to reach stock on high shelves. The tin ceiling that drew a double-take from Dillingham’s architect Thursday will add to that historic vibe.

“Everybody we’ve talked to has given us a positive response,” said Dillingham, noting the 291 “likes” their Facebook page had received as of Friday. “We’re excited.”

Dillingham was born and raised in a small town in Maine and said Gastonia has some of the same charm. Just this week, she moved from the South Park area of Charlotte into a loft she bought here, in the Carriage Company building at Main Avenue and Marietta Street.

She noted the surrounding eateries that are quietly building a foundation downtown, such as the Miller and Kasper hot dog stand, Zoe’s Coffee House and Nick’s Steak and Taphouse.

“I just like the feel and I like the people,” she said of Gastonia. “We’re starting to see things open up here. So yeah, why not do it?”

Spa treatment

Ai Nguyen and his girlfriend, Dana Dang, also hope Chic Nail Spa will benefit from the boost in downtown activity.

Nguyen has worked in the nail salon business more than a decade. He’s lived in Gastonia about six years while commuting to work in Shelby.

Dang, in turn, has 15 years of experience.

“We just decided we needed to go on our own,” Nguyen said.

In recent years, the Commercial Building storefronts on South Street were occupied by businesses such as Tag It Embroidery and Visual Arts, and Poor Richard’s Book Shoppe, which eventually closed.

Dang has friends who work at Running with Scissors and for the city of Gastonia downtown. They suggested the couple consider a move there.

They recently sealed the deal, signing a lease with building owner Nathan Kirby. Kirby’s plans to renovate both the Commercial Building and its fellow high-rise across the street — the Lawyers Building — helped convince them to take the plunge.

“I see a lot of potential down here,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen and Dang decided to take both spaces for their venture, and their final building inspection was Friday. They’ll offer manicures, pedicures and other standard services, as well as facials, he said.

They also hope to offer other perks, such as a complimentary glass of wine for customers after standard working hours.

“We want them to come in and try to relax, maybe with a little glass of wine,” Nguyen said. “That sure works for my girlfriend.”

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.